ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 98, 20 January 1926, Page 6

ATHLETICS

[By

Spike.]

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES: January 22—Masterton A.A.C. January 22—Porirua A.A.C. January 30—Wellington Provincial Championships.

Scholz and Hahn. The presence in New Zealand of Scholz and Hahn is still the chief topic of conversation in athletic circles. The visitors are quite satisfied with their present condition, but it will be some weeks before they are in their best form. Hahn, particularly, is devoting himself to serious training, and has already done some fast work. The middledistance crack is looking forward to his meeting with. it. A. Rose, and when this takes place in Wellington it will provide au excellent draw. Hahn, during last season, raced a mile on several occasions in 4miu. IGsec., and even recorded 4min. Msec. lor the distance. Hahn has shown himself to be a great judge of pace. At Auckland the other day the American set out to run one and a half miles in Binin. Ho was timed by official of flhe Auckland Centre, who announced the time as each quarter was encompassed. Hahn eventually finished his task in 7uiiu. 57sec. —truly good judgment. The hard ground has prevented Scholz doing any last work. During the past week ho has been educating several Auckland sprinters in the art of starting, aud his efforts are greatly appreciated by those concerned. Scholz regards the action of an athlete in beating the pistol as a crime. While training at the Domain he has noticed local runners uneasy on the mark, and ever ready to beat the starter. The American considers that some starters are liable to let the field go altogether too soon after the “sei." jiosition has been reached. Ho believes that sprinters should be kept waiting until the starter is ready to fire, and that any runner breaking should bo constantly penalised. In high-class company, ho said, several inches gained at the start meant au assured victory. He had never known himself to beat a starter.

Indoor running is a very popular sport in America, and large crowds witness the indoor winter games. The tracks, which are about 180 yards in circumference, are made of pine wood and art raised some inches from the ground. Although the bends are in some places very sharp the absence of any wind greatly assists the runner. Hahn is tho holder of tho world’s record for 1000yds. and 1500yds, on indoor tracks.

Expectations Fulfilled. By their showing in their first meeting of the tour, at Hamilton, on Saturday last, the visitors more than fulfilled expectations and demonstrated that they are "goers” from the start. Their training must be of the right nature; otherwise the times credited to them would not have been nearly as good. Evens for the first furlong of a tour is a fine performance, and opens

the way to speculation as to just what time- it will take Scholz to cover the distance when tho tour is more advanced. A local enthusiast who attended the meeting, states that Hahn runs his races out all the way much after the stylo of Campbell, the Olympic captain and Dominion quarter mile champion. The 120 yards hurdles handicap at the meeting provided an interesting race, in which W. G. Kalaughrt (Wellington), J. W. Shirley (Auckland), and G. Thomp. son were on the scratch mark. Kalauglier was too good for the others and won in good style in 16 2-ssec. The absence of a take-off board handicapped the competitors in the long jump.. Tn tho high jump, Kalanghcr and Shirley came out of their shells, and registered tho excellent effort of sft. lOlin., which is an improvement of 34 inches on the New Zealand standard. An unsuccessful attempt was made to clear the bar at 6ft In filling second place in the hop, step and jump handicap. Shirley bettered the standard by 4in. Kalaugher, who was also on the scratch mark, was third with 42ft. Win. Kalangher and. Shirley should appear ns interesting rivals at the New Zealand championships at Dunedin.

Jottings. L. C. Williams, the Auckland sprint champion, has resumed training. With a reasonable handicap, Williams can be expected to show up well when he meets Scholz

T. M. Wilson, the Auckland half-mile end one-mile champion, has been doing some solid training. Wilson, who was once the victim of a serious football accident, was successful at the Auckland championship meeting, but he can do a lot better and will be Auckland’s hope when he and Hahn face the starter on January 23.

Mr. F. de Malmanche, who is leaving Wellington to take up a position in Christchurch, was the recipient of a presentation by members and officials of the Wellington Club on. Saturday. Tlie president (Mr. A. C. Kitto) referred to Mr. Malmanche’s success on the track, his good work as secretary of the club, and his untiring efforts in the interests of athletics generally. Tho presentation took tho form of a gold medal inset with the club’s colours and monogram. “For services rondered”was inscribed on the back.

Kyle had not properly recovered from a mild attack of influenza when he donned the singlet on Saturday. As a consequence he did not reproduce his usual form. He still has his eyes on the 440 yards record, and, if he is up to the mark, it should go at Hasterton on Saturday next. E. A. .Tracy’s retirement from the track closes an interesting and successful athletic career. The former champion. who will still take an active part in tlie administrative side of the sport, has intimated his willingness to coach the younger fry. The opportunity is one that should not be neglected by tho colts. 5